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The President arrived back at the White House at 1:40 PM and went for a swim. I sat on the side of the pool, and we talked. At 2:30 PM we walked up to the Oval Room. — Robert Kennedy, Thirteen Days
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a hothead. I react to things far more quickly than I need to, often having to backtrack statements or actions that I made in the heat of a moment. Far too many times, I’ve overreacted and said things or done things that are, in retrospect, not only stupid but embarrassing. I mean, I’m a grown man! Why do I still struggle with temper tantrums? (Because that’s really all they are. See, told ya, embarrassing.)
Even in the classroom, where my composure is supposed to be total and my responses to anything should always be measured, more times than I’d like to admit I failed horribly at being the understanding and supportive teacher. Total and utter failure on so many fronts.
It’s one of the reasons why I invest time working on myself and why I’ve found some purpose in studying the stoic philosophy which is grounded in not overreacting and accepting that what is is and that I am in 100% in control of how I respond to anything that happens to me.
So, when I read Thirteen Days, Robert Kennedy’s memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis, I was struck by the statement I shared at the beginning of this…
